Sixth Grade Secrets

The author of There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom shows how easy it is for one secret to become a catacomb of secretssome harmful, some harmlesseven when no one has intended them to go so far. Laura has hair down to there that is the envy of the sixth grade girls and admired by one boyGabriel. She starts a club called Pig City; members offer their own secrets as ""insurance'' against their telling anyone else of the club's existence. A rival club springs upMonkey Townand soon there are so many secrets that it looks as if their teacher, Mr. Doyle, will have to take drastic measures. Sachar has created a bunch of kids and worries that are quite real; his witty, well-paced story shows off his impeccable ear for classroom banter. Ages 9-12. (September)